Every year, crypto traders and analysts flood social media with claims that the next “altcoin season” is just around the corner. Yet despite the hype and the FOMO that spreads across platforms and forums, the charts haven’t confirmed any real altseason since mid-2021.
But that might be changing.
In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly what to look for on the charts to confirm whether a new altseason is finally starting.
What Was the Altcoin Season (2017–2022)?
Between 2017 and 2022, altcoins experienced explosive growth. It was a time when nearly any altcoin investment could yield quick returns.
The boom was so strong that it drew new participants into the crypto space, eager to understand what was happening.
Before diving into the technical details, it’s essential to understand that altcoins are highly dependent on the performance of two major players: Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Bitcoin is the anchor of the entire crypto market. When Bitcoin is in a strong uptrend, the probability of altcoins performing well increases. However, a true altseason—like those in 2017 – 2021—requires more than just a bullish Bitcoin.
Ethereum and Altcoins Relationship
Go to any exchange (Bybit or Binance) or data aggregator (CoinMarketCap), and you’ll see the same market cap leaderboard: Bitcoin at the top, followed by Ethereum.
- Bitcoin Market Cap: $2,36T
- Ethereum Market Cap: $413B
Market capitalisation (market cap) is calculated by multiplying an asset’s price by its circulating supply.
Ethereum’s dominance underscores its significant presence in the altcoin ecosystem. This is especially evident in a key chart, such as ETH/BTC.
What Happened in the Last Altseason?
The first real altcoin boom happened between 2017 and 2021.
- Altseason 2015–2017: New crypto projects emerged, and early adoption began.
- Altseason 2017–2021: Widespread adoption took off, along with the launch of major crypto exchanges.
From a technical perspective, this period revealed a strong relationship between Bitcoin and the ETH/USD and ETH/BTC pairs.
Bitcoin rallied until early 2018, then entered a two-year correction. Altcoins, including Ethereum, followed. In 2020, Bitcoin and many altcoins resumed a bullish trend, but something changed.
During the 2020–2021 rally, Ethereum failed to make a higher high against Bitcoin. Instead, it formed a lower high, marking a shift in structure.
Since then, the ETH/BTC pair has entered a slow, steady downtrend. The ETH/USD pair has been trading sideways, with an average price of $2,305, from 2021 through 2024.
This four-year range has prevented altcoins from experiencing the kind of explosive moves typically associated with a true altseason.
How to Confirm the Next Altseason
To confirm a new altseason, we need to see a Sign of Strength (SOS) on the ETH/BTC chart. This has been a key point emphasised by Daniel from Chart Champions, who specialises in swing trading.
Daniel’s insights have helped students understand the right and wrong times to accumulate altcoins, based on market structure rather than hype.
Roughly 90% of altcoins depend on Ethereum to move. For most of them to truly pump, Ethereum needs to lead the way.
Put simply: Ethereum leads 90% of the altcoin market.
If we’re looking for a proper altseason, ETH has to pump.
Until now, Ethereum hadn’t shown any meaningful Signs of Strength, which meant that every pump ended up being a bull trap, inevitably catching many traders on the wrong side.
But now, for the first time in years, Ethereum is showing an SOS by trading above the Point of Control (POC) of its entire high-timeframe range—after perfectly bouncing off a yearly pivot support.
The chart above uses the ETH/BTC monthly timeframe to highlight this potential structural shift.
If we zoom in on the daily timeframe, we can observe the structural shift on the ETH/BTC pair more closely, which raises the probability of continued upside.
That said, at Chart Champions, we trade level by level, carefully watching each resistance along the way.
Still, this marks a clear foundation for a potential shift in Ethereum’s trend.
Daniel’s Altcoin Overview for 2025-2026
Not all altcoins are created equal. In fact, about 90% of the altcoins remain weak and barely move, even when Bitcoin and Ethereum rally. However, Ethereum’s recent Sign of Strength finally opens the door for a true altseason.
It’s crucial not to chase every hype cycle or jump into every pump. Instead, adopt a highly selective approach:
- Pick only the best setups. Focus on altcoins with clear technical strength and confluence at support zones.
- Time your entries. Wait for sensible pullbacks into well-defined levels instead of chasing every spike or resistance touch.
- Trade with discipline. Treat each position like a business: use strict risk limits, stick to your plan, and don’t let FOMO drive you.
Conclusion
After years of sideways movement and failed rallies, Ethereum is finally showing technical signs that could bring the next altseason.
The shift above the high-timeframe Point of Control, combined with a bounce from a yearly pivot, suggests a potential change in trend on the ETH/BTC chart.
If this current Sign of Strength holds, we could be entering one of the most anticipated phases of the crypto cycle.
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